Compare towns
Strong vs Embden vs Phillips vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Strong | Embden | Phillips | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
995 |
1,094 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Troy and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$56,875±$23kHighest 24% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
| Embden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$213,000±$31kHighest 28% below ME |
| Troy and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276 19% below ME |
— | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
| Troy and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.